According to foreign media reports, the European Aluminium Association is urging the European Union to impose sanctions on aluminum supplied by Russia, but not including EU companies owned by Rusal. The organization has been lobbying the EU to ban Russian aluminum in response to its invasion of Ukraine. While the sanctions have not been implemented, they are still on the agenda.

Rusal sold 4.2 million tons of aluminum last year, with the majority produced in Russia. The world's largest aluminum producer outside of China also has operations in Ireland, Sweden, Jamaica, Guinea, and China. Paul Wos, Secretary General of the European Aluminium Association, said that the principle of EU sanctions is to weaken Russia's war machine as much as possible without harming European industrial and even social interests. Although the EU currently has bans on Russian-produced aluminum wire, foil, and tube, the organization stated last year that it includes export of aluminum, including raw metal.